National Institutes of Health, Division of Research Contracts, 6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7540, Room 6E01, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7540

A -- EFFECTS OF REMAINING HAIR CELLS ON COCHLEAR IMPLANT FUNCTION SOL NIH-DC-98-11 POC John P. DeCenzo, Contracting Officer, (301)496-4487 WEB: Click here to download a copy of the solicitation., http://www4.od.nih.gov/ocm/drc/rfp.htm. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer., jd93o@nih.gov. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, is soliciting proposals for basic research on the relationship between remaining hair cells in cochleas with cochlear electrode arrays and cochlear implant function. As more people with some remaining hearing receive cochlear implants and as insertion trauma is reduced during implantation, there will be more cases of implanted individuals with some surviving hair cells. There is reason to believe that these hair cells could have both beneficial and detrimental effects on the function of cochlear implants. This research project, to be performed in animals with cochlear electrode arrays, will determine the relationship between hair cell survival and cochlear implant function. It should answer the following questions: 1. Does the presence of hair cells help to reduce the synchronous firing of auditory nerve fibers by electrical stimulation and can this effect be optimized to make their firing more stochastic? 2. What role does acoustic activation of remaining hair cells have on the patterns of activation and survival of remaining auditory nerve fibers? 3. If remaining hair cells also have potentially negative effects on cochlear implant function, how can these effects be reduced or eliminated without affecting positive attributes? A three-year cost-reimbursement type contract is anticipated, with award made on or about July 1, 1999. The solicitation is scheduled to be issued on or about July 31, 1998. Proposals will be due ninety days after the date of issuance of the solicitation. THE SOLICITATION WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING WORLD WIDE WEB SITE: http://www4.od.nih.gov/ocm/drc/rfp.htm. NO HARD COPIES WILL BE PROVIDED. OFFERORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTINELY CHECKING THIS WEB SITE FOR ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE SOLICITATION. INDIVIDUAL NOTIFICATION OF AMENDMENTS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED. All responsible sources may submit a proposal that will be considered by the Government. See Numbered Note 26. Posted 07/13/98 (W-SN222181). (0194)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0002 19980715\A-0002.SOL)